Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles was awestruck by Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell as the best offense in the WNBA took on the second-best defense in the league. As the Indiana Fever took on the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, the game saw back-and-forth action as the Lynx won 108-100. For rookie Olivia Miles, the matchup against a team with three All-Star players was particularly eye-opening. She was particularly amazed by Mitchell, who ended up as the highest scorer across both teams on the night.
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An Instagram post by JustWomensSports revealed audio captured during the game, when Miles expressed her appreciation for the veteran Fever guard.
“You’re so tough, man. Oh my God, Jesus.”
There are enough reasons for Miles to be impressed by Mitchell, a four-time WNBA All-Star. Although the Fever lost the game, Mitchell did everything she could to keep the Fever in the running. She finished with 37 points and three assists. Miles did not hesitate to give Mitchell the flowers after the game, per the Instagram post by JustWomensSports.
“It’s so fun playing with great guards. Kelsey Mitchell is really the one that’s killing us right now. I’m just kind of in awe watching her. This is low-key my welcome to the W and just trying to guard her. But it’s so fun, you know. We have respect for each other, so it’s fun.”
It has been a scintillating season for Mitchell so far. She is averaging 23.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game this season. She leads this Indiana team in scoring. Her high usage rate of 26.2% per the WNBA website indicates the Fever’s reliance on her playmaking abilities.
The win was the 10th straight for the Lynx, a feat they achieved for the first time since 2016. Miles led the Lynx offense and was the top scorer for their team, with 28 points, shooting 11 of 14 from the field and three of six from beyond the arc. Courtney Williams added another 27 points. Lynx fans saw Napheesa Collier play 30+ minutes, contributing 18 points in the win. Collier had missed the first half of the season due to injury.
Along with Kelsey Mitchell’s impressive scoring, Caitlin Clark pitched in 19 points. The Fever came close to tying the game at 98-100 with just over two minutes on the clock, but the Lynx displayed their ability to stifle opponent scoring through a defensive rating of 102.7 per WNBA stats. They held on to win the game.
Olivia Miles is also leading the race for Rookie of the Year, and some experts have placed her in the top five to win the MVP as well. She has also posted solid numbers all season, averaging 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. She is leading the Lynx in points and assists, despite the presence of star veterans on the team.
However, for the Fever, this loss ends a five-game winning streak. It adds to the trend of them losing high-scoring matches. They already hold the all-time WNBA record for the team with the most losses in a season while scoring 100 or more points, according to The Sporting News.
If they aspire to seriously challenge for the title, coach Stephanie White will need to address these tactical gaps in their play, as they take on another top side in the Las Vegas Aces next.